The Attorney General is mailing grant applications to homeless shelters and similar organizations throughout Idaho. Eligible shelters will receive a grant to purchase food and food-related equipment, such as a refrigerator, oven, or food processor. The amount of each shelter's grant will be based on the number of individuals the shelter services each month.

"In 2003 Idaho's shelters fed thousands of homeless Idahoans," Attorney General Wasden said. "This grant program will help continue to provide nutritious meals to those who may otherwise go hungry."

The $92,448 is the result of settlement agreements in two antitrust lawsuits. The Attorney General's Office hopes to distribute the grant money before the end of the year.

In 2000, the Attorney General resolved a suit alleging that several international manufacturers conspired to fix prices for vitamins and vitamin products. The settlement agreement required the retailers to pay the State of Idaho $1,328,168 of which $56,156 will benefit Idaho's homeless shelters.

A more recent lawsuit involved Salton, Inc., a distributor of small household appliances. Forty-six states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico joined in the lawsuit, alleging that the company engaged in resale price fixing. Under this settlement agreement, Salton, Inc. paid the State of Idaho $36,292, which will also be used to benefit Idaho's homeless shelters.